Tuesday Magic Item – Virtue Mask

14 August, 2018

Voddick fumbled for his purse and dug out several coins and dropped them in the bowl held by the masked figure who, it must be said, presented more as a warrior than a mendicant. Gollaon fished a coin out from somewhere and dropped it in the bowl.

Once they were safely out of earshot Voddick said, “I respect and pity those who have chosen that past. it is not the nature of my people to turn their backs on the past.”

“Even for a good cause?” asked Gollaon.

“Especially for a good cause. How could it be good if your family and ancestors did not approve?”

Virtue Mask

These masks are of simple construction, usually painted wood with eye holes, the front of the mask is painted white (or rarely another pale color) and marked with a rune, sigil or word indicating the virtue it embodies. The interior of the mask is often scribed with advice or prayers that no one other the wearer would see and then only before donning the mask. One does not don a virtue mask lightly, to do so is to accept the demands of the virtue inscribed over one’s own desires and drives.

But putting on the mask, the wearer is making the virtue marked upon it their driving force. For those that respect such devotion, the wearer gains a +4 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy checks.

While acting to further their chosen virtue, the wearer gains a +2 sacred bonus to skill checks and to Will saves and any magical compulsion that tries to turn them against the virtue’s dictates simply fails. Once per day, as a free action, they can gain temporary hit points equal to their level plus their Charisma modifier (minimum 0) for five minutes. Additionally, while both the wearer and their allies are acting to further the mask’s virtue, all allies of the wearer within 30′ gain a +1 morale bonus to saves against Fear and to skill checks.

However, the wearer of the mask is locked into following the virtue they are embodying, no half measures, no grey areas, the virtue is their driving motivation and their will follow it unto death.

But putting on the mask, the wearer is making the virtue marked upon it their driving force. For those that respect such devotion, the wearer gains advantage when using Charisma (Persuasion) with such people.

While acting to further their chosen virtue, the wearer gains advantage to attribute rolls and to Wisdom and Charisma saving throws and any magical compulsion that tries to turn them against the virtue’s dictates simply fails. Once, as a bonus action, the wearer can gain temporary hit points equal to their level plus their Charisma modifier (minimum 0) for five minutes, this ability resets after a long rest. Additionally, while both the wearer and their allies are acting to further the mask’s virtue, all allies of the wearer within 30′ gain advantage to saving throws against Fear.

However, the wearer of the mask is locked into following the virtue they are embodying, no half measures, no grey areas, the virtue is their driving motivation and their will follow it unto death.

Notes: This magic item is not a license for the DM to be a jerk, the player should be making an informed choice for their character and be willing to walk this rigid and, probably, self-destructive path. Both should agree on what the virtue represents and where it is likely to cause problems in play. This is a chance for some interesting, though likely doomed, character development.

Inspired by the paladin of the Sealed Order I am playing in a Dungeon World campaign.